Plans to stop house buyers being 'exploited' by ripoff leases delayed, almost a year after government promise

Flagship plans to stop house buyers being “exploited” by ripoff leases have been delayed, nearly a year after the government vowed to act.

Last December, ministers announced they would outlaw leasehold agreements on most new homes and scrap ground rents on those that still went ahead in multi-flat buildings.

The move followed protests over “feudal practices” that allowed ground rents to double every 10 years and for freeholds to be sold to investment companies – which then demanded tens of thousands of pounds to buy them.

But instead of pressing ahead with the crackdown, James Brokenshire, the housing secretary, has announced a fresh consultation near-identical to one staged last year.

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Sir Vince Cable, the Liberal Democrat leader, said it appeared to be another example of a government failing to tackle problems because it was “consumed by Brexit”.

“The Conservatives have developed a very bad habit of kicking cans down the road,” Sir Vince said.

“And here we are again – another consultation instead of legislation, a government consumed by Brexit that talks rather than does.”

There are 1.4 million leasehold houses across England – where the freeholder of the property, rather than the occupier, owns the building and the land it sits on – and the number of leasehold sales is rapidly growing.

Vowing change 10 months ago, Sajid Javid, now the home secretary, also pledged to make the process of buying a freehold or extending a lease “much easier, faster and cheaper”.

“It’s clear from the overwhelming response from the public that real action is needed to end these feudal practices.”

leftCreated with Sketch.rightCreated with Sketch.

1/50 13 October 2018

Police stop a breakaway from the main Football Lads alliance march, as they attempt to get close to a rival anti-facist demonstration in London

AP

2/50 12 October 2018

Waves hit Cawsand, Cornwall as Storm Callum arrives to the UK

PA

3/50 11 October 2018

Former Prime Minister John Major has spoken out against the launch of Universal Credit (the Government's new benefit model). Claiming that it will hurt families of "already meagre living standards", he suggested that the policy could be similarly damaging to Theresa May as Poll Tax was to Margaret Thatcher

PA

4/50 10 October 2018

The Supreme Court has ruled that two Belfast bakers were within the law to refuse to cook a cake that endorsed gay marriage. The case, beginning in 2014 and progressing to the highest court in the land, has been controversial and has raised discussion about the balance of rights and equality

Reuters

5/50 9 October 2018

Scotland's First Minister and leader of the Scottish National Party, Nicola Sturgeon acknowledges the applause as she delivers her keynote speech to delegates on the final day of the SNP annual conference in Glasgow

AFP/Getty

6/50 8 October 2018

Anna Richardson and Alastair Campbell pose with their portraits at Let's Talk, a photography exhibition created in partnership with Mental Health UK at Regent's Place in London. It is designed to inspire open and honest conversations about mental health by depicting each subjects inner battles on their faces

Paul Davey/SWNS

7/50 7 October 2018

The Royal De Luxe theatre company's 'Giants' street puppets during a street theatre performances in Liverpool

PA

8/50 6 October 2018

Banksy's artwork, Girl With Balloon which shredded itself after being sold for more than £1 million at auction. The auction house was forced to admit it got Banksy-ed after the canvas suddenly passed through a shredder installed in the frame

PA

9/50 5 October 2018

A new artwork depicting Prime Minister Theresa May by street artist The Pink Bear Rebel has recently appeared in the West End of Glasgow

PA

10/50 4 October 2018

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn on a climbing wall during a visit to The Climbing Lab in Leeds, which was damaged during the Boxing Day floods in 2015 as he supported the city's bid for more funding for flood defences to prevent any future disasters

PA

11/50 3 October 2018

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May dances a few steps as she takes to the stage to give her keynote address on the fourth and final day of the Conservative Party Conference at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham

AFP/Getty

12/50 2 October 2018

Boris Johnson warned that Theresa May’s “cheat” Brexit plans would leave the UK in “manacles” and lead to the dominance of the far right and far left in British politics during his speech at a fringe event at the Conservative Party annual conference in Birmingham

PA

13/50 1 October 2018

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson speaking at the Conservative Party annual conference at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham

PA

14/50 30 September 2018

Protestors set off on an anti-Brexit march, organised by the 'Best For Britain' campaign group, in central Birmingham

AFP/Getty

15/50 29 September 2018

Royal Navy Commander, Nathan Gray lands his F-35B onboard HMS Queen Elizabeth for the first time.
Two F-35B Lightning II fighter jets have successfully landed onboard HMS Queen Elizabeth for the first time, laying the foundations for the next 50 years of fixed wing aviation in support of the UK’s Carrier Strike Capability.
Royal Navy Commander, Nathan Gray, 41, made history by being the first to land on, carefully manoeuvring his stealth jet onto the thermal coated deck. He was followed by Squadron Leader Andy Edgell, RAF, both of whom are test pilots, operating with the Integrated Test Force (ITF) based at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland.
Shortly afterwards, once a deck inspection has been conducted and the all-clear given, Cdr Gray became the first pilot to take off using the ship’s ski-ramp.

Crown copyright/PO Arron Hoare

16/50 28 September 2018

Headteachers from across England and Wales hold signs in Parliament Square, London, as they prepare to march on Downing Street to demand extra money for schools

PA

17/50 27 September 2018

Former leader of the English Defence League Tommy Robinson (C) arrives at the Old Bailey Courthouse in London, Britain, 27 September 2018. The far right figurehead whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon faces a rehearing after winning an appeal against a contempt of court finding last month.

EPA

18/50 26 September 2018

Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn delivers a keynote speech at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool

EPA

19/50 25 September 2018

Derby County manager leads the celebrations with players in front of their fans after winning a penalty shootout against Manchester United in the third round of the Carabao Cup. Lampard faced his old manager as a player, Jose Mourinho, for the first time in his managerial career

Action Images via Reuters

20/50 24 September 2018

The European Parliament's Brexit coordinator Guy Verhofstadt arriving in Downing Street, in London, for a meeting with Prime Minister Theresa May

AFP/Getty

21/50 23 September 2018

Campaigners take part in a 'People's Vote' March in central Liverpool to call for members of the public to be given a vote on the final negotiations of the UK's exit from the European Union and coincides with the annual Labour Party Conference

EPA

22/50 22 September 2018

US telecommunications company Comcast has won the bid for Sky. Already owning 39% of shares in Sky, Rupert Murdoch's Fox was looking to take full control, but has been outbid by Comcast at £30 billion

PA

23/50 21 September 2018

The Prime Minister responded with ire to the EU's rejection of her Chequers deal, stating that it is "unacceptable" at this stage for them to reject a deal outright without offering an alternative, and that the UK expects to be treated with respect

Reuters

24/50 20 September 2018

Chris Evans’ wife Natasha Shishmanian has given birth to twins, a boy and girl affectionately nicknamed “Ping and Pong” throughout the pregnancy

Getty

25/50 19 September 2018

Storm Ali hit the British Isles bringing winds of up to 100mph. A woman in the Republic of Ireland was killed when her caravan was blown off of a cliff and a man in Northern Ireland was killed by a falling tree. Pictured is a bus that was carrying students of Dundee University that was hit by a falling tree in Fife

PA

26/50 18 September 2018

Car manufacturer BMW announced that its Mini factory in the UK would close for its annual summer maintenance several weeks earlier than planned, starting on April 1, 2019, to avoid any disruption in case of a no-deal Brexit

AFP/Getty

27/50 17 September 2018

"It's either my deal or no deal", the Prime Minister has said to the BBC's Nick Robinson in an interview on Panorama. Mrs May also claims to be irritated by the constant speculation over her leadership, stating "this debate is not about my future. This debate is about the future of the people of the UK and the future of the United Kingdom."

BBC/Jeff Overs

28/50 16 September 2018

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan announced his support for a second Brexit referendum. In The Observer, the mayor writes: “After careful consideration, I’ve decided the people must get a final say. This means a public vote on any deal or a vote on a no deal, alongside the option of staying in the EU"

BBC/PA

29/50 15 September 2018

The Liberal Democrats party conference began in Brighton. In his conference speech, leader Vince Cable is expected to elaborate on his plans for a "Movement for Moderates"

PA

30/50 14 September 2018

An early Banksy mural has been accidentally painted over during renovations. The mural has been on the shop front on Park Row in the artist's hometown of Bristol since the 1990s

PA

31/50 13 September 2018

Suspects in the Skripal poisoning case Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov today claimed in an interview with Russian state broadcaster RT that they were visiting Salisbury as tourists. Stating "It’s famous for its 123-meter spire. It’s famous for its clock. It’s one of the oldest working clocks in the world."

Getty

32/50 12 September 2018

Tottenham Hotspur and French National goalkeeper Hugo Lloris leaves Westminster Magistrates' Court after pleading guilty to drink driving. The footballer is accused of being over twice the legal alcohol limit when he was stopped by police on August 24

Getty

33/50 11 September 2018

David Suchet recites from Amadeus during a service of thanksgiving to celebrate the life and work of Sir Peter Hall, the former director of the National Theatre, at Westminster Abbey in London

PA

34/50 10 September 2018

Alastair Cook celebrates his century in his last ever innings playing for England during the fourth day of the fifth test cricket match against India at The Oval. He announced his retirement before the fifth test match began, ending his illustrious 12-year test career

AFP/Getty

35/50 9 September 2018

Sir Mo Farah winning the The Great North Run's elite men's race, claiming a record-breaking fifth consecutive victory. He completed the race in under an hour

Getty/Nike

36/50 8 September 2018

Britain's former foreign secretary Boris Johnson sits in the stands during play on the second day of the fifth Test cricket match between England and India at The Oval in London

AFP/Getty

37/50 7 September 2018

The poppy sculpture Wave by artist Paul Cummins and designer Tom Piper at IWM North, The Quays, Manchester. This is the final presentation of Wave as part of a four year UK-wide tour, and the sculpture will be on site until 25 November

PA

38/50 6 September 2018

The aftermath of a house fire, which broke out in the early hours of the morning, where a woman died in Centurion Square, south-east London.

PA

39/50 5 September 2018

Counter-terrorism police have released images of the two suspects in connection with the Salisbury attack in March. The suspects Ruslan Boshirov and Alexander Petrov, are Russian nationals, and approximately 40 years old. They travelled on a Russian passport and it is likely that they were travelling under aliases and that these are not their real names. The CPS has issued European Arrest Warrants for the extradition in connection with the Novichok poisoning attack on Sergei Skripal

Metropolitan Police

40/50 4 September 2018

Pro Labour party leader, Jeremy Corbyn, protesters demonstrate outside the Labour party headquarters in London. Labour's NEC (National Executive Committee) is expected to approve the international definition of anti-Semitism into Labour's code of conduct

EPA

41/50 3 September 2018

Chris Evans surrounded by media as he leaves the Radio 2 studio in London after he announced he is quitting his breakfast show which he has presented since 2010

PA

42/50 2 September 2018

43/50 1 September 2018

An inflatable caricature balloon of Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan floats, near Parliament Square in London. Organizer Yanny Bruere raised more than 58,000 pounds ($75,000) through the Crowdfunder website for the 29-foot (8.8-meter) blimp as part of a campaign to oust Khan from his post. Khan angered some people in the British capital and elsewhere last month when he allowed a balloon caricaturing Donald Trump as an angry baby to float above the city while the U.S. president was in England.

AP

44/50 31 August 2018

A can of Coca-Cola next to a cup of Costa coffee, as Whitbread has struck a deal to sell the Costa Coffee chain to Coca-Cola for £3.9 billion

PA

45/50 30 August 2018

Frank Field MP in Westminster, London, after resigning from the Labour party over the anti-Semitism crisis. Field, who has represented Birkenhead from almost 40 years, revealed in a letter to party chief whip Nick Brown that he could no longer serve the party as the leadership was overseeing the "erosion of our core values"

PA

46/50 29 August 2018

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex meeting 'King George' and the cast at the Victoria Palace Theatre in London after attending a gala performance of the musical Hamilton, in support of Sentebale. The evening raises awareness and funds for Sentebale's work with children and young people affected by HIV in southern Africa

Dan Charity/The Sun/PA

47/50 28 August 2018

Prime Minister Theresa May meets students and staff at I.D. Mkize Secondary School in Cape Town, which is twinned with Whitby High School in Yorkshire. The two schools are part of a British Council funded teacher exchange scheme called 'Connected Classrooms'. The prime minister is on day one of her trip to South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya on a trade mission designed to bolster the UK's post-Brexit fortunes

PA

48/50 27 August 2018

Performers take part in the main Parade day of Notting Hill Carnival in London. Nearly one million people are expected by the organizers over Sunday and Monday in the streets of west London to celebrate Caribbean culture, which is considered the largest street demonstration in Europe

AFP/Getty

49/50 26 August 2018

The crowd pauses for 72 seconds silence in remembrance of all those lost in the Grenfell Tower fire at the Red Bull Music Academy Sound System at Notting Hill

Getty

50/50 25 August 2018

Comedian Rose Matafeo is congratulated by Steve Coogan after winning the Edinburgh Comedy Award at the Dovecote Studio

PA

1/50 13 October 2018

Police stop a breakaway from the main Football Lads alliance march, as they attempt to get close to a rival anti-facist demonstration in London

AP

2/50 12 October 2018

Waves hit Cawsand, Cornwall as Storm Callum arrives to the UK

PA

3/50 11 October 2018

Former Prime Minister John Major has spoken out against the launch of Universal Credit (the Government's new benefit model). Claiming that it will hurt families of "already meagre living standards", he suggested that the policy could be similarly damaging to Theresa May as Poll Tax was to Margaret Thatcher

PA

4/50 10 October 2018

The Supreme Court has ruled that two Belfast bakers were within the law to refuse to cook a cake that endorsed gay marriage. The case, beginning in 2014 and progressing to the highest court in the land, has been controversial and has raised discussion about the balance of rights and equality

Reuters

5/50 9 October 2018

Scotland's First Minister and leader of the Scottish National Party, Nicola Sturgeon acknowledges the applause as she delivers her keynote speech to delegates on the final day of the SNP annual conference in Glasgow

AFP/Getty

6/50 8 October 2018

Anna Richardson and Alastair Campbell pose with their portraits at Let's Talk, a photography exhibition created in partnership with Mental Health UK at Regent's Place in London. It is designed to inspire open and honest conversations about mental health by depicting each subjects inner battles on their faces

Paul Davey/SWNS

7/50 7 October 2018

The Royal De Luxe theatre company's 'Giants' street puppets during a street theatre performances in Liverpool

PA

8/50 6 October 2018

Banksy's artwork, Girl With Balloon which shredded itself after being sold for more than £1 million at auction. The auction house was forced to admit it got Banksy-ed after the canvas suddenly passed through a shredder installed in the frame

PA

9/50 5 October 2018

A new artwork depicting Prime Minister Theresa May by street artist The Pink Bear Rebel has recently appeared in the West End of Glasgow

PA

10/50 4 October 2018

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn on a climbing wall during a visit to The Climbing Lab in Leeds, which was damaged during the Boxing Day floods in 2015 as he supported the city's bid for more funding for flood defences to prevent any future disasters

PA

11/50 3 October 2018

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May dances a few steps as she takes to the stage to give her keynote address on the fourth and final day of the Conservative Party Conference at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham

AFP/Getty

12/50 2 October 2018

Boris Johnson warned that Theresa May’s “cheat” Brexit plans would leave the UK in “manacles” and lead to the dominance of the far right and far left in British politics during his speech at a fringe event at the Conservative Party annual conference in Birmingham

PA

13/50 1 October 2018

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson speaking at the Conservative Party annual conference at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham

PA

14/50 30 September 2018

Protestors set off on an anti-Brexit march, organised by the 'Best For Britain' campaign group, in central Birmingham

AFP/Getty

15/50 29 September 2018

Royal Navy Commander, Nathan Gray lands his F-35B onboard HMS Queen Elizabeth for the first time.
Two F-35B Lightning II fighter jets have successfully landed onboard HMS Queen Elizabeth for the first time, laying the foundations for the next 50 years of fixed wing aviation in support of the UK’s Carrier Strike Capability.
Royal Navy Commander, Nathan Gray, 41, made history by being the first to land on, carefully manoeuvring his stealth jet onto the thermal coated deck. He was followed by Squadron Leader Andy Edgell, RAF, both of whom are test pilots, operating with the Integrated Test Force (ITF) based at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland.
Shortly afterwards, once a deck inspection has been conducted and the all-clear given, Cdr Gray became the first pilot to take off using the ship’s ski-ramp.

Crown copyright/PO Arron Hoare

16/50 28 September 2018

Headteachers from across England and Wales hold signs in Parliament Square, London, as they prepare to march on Downing Street to demand extra money for schools

PA

17/50 27 September 2018

Former leader of the English Defence League Tommy Robinson (C) arrives at the Old Bailey Courthouse in London, Britain, 27 September 2018. The far right figurehead whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon faces a rehearing after winning an appeal against a contempt of court finding last month.

EPA

18/50 26 September 2018

Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn delivers a keynote speech at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool

EPA

19/50 25 September 2018

Derby County manager leads the celebrations with players in front of their fans after winning a penalty shootout against Manchester United in the third round of the Carabao Cup. Lampard faced his old manager as a player, Jose Mourinho, for the first time in his managerial career

Action Images via Reuters

20/50 24 September 2018

The European Parliament's Brexit coordinator Guy Verhofstadt arriving in Downing Street, in London, for a meeting with Prime Minister Theresa May

AFP/Getty

21/50 23 September 2018

Campaigners take part in a 'People's Vote' March in central Liverpool to call for members of the public to be given a vote on the final negotiations of the UK's exit from the European Union and coincides with the annual Labour Party Conference

EPA

22/50 22 September 2018

US telecommunications company Comcast has won the bid for Sky. Already owning 39% of shares in Sky, Rupert Murdoch's Fox was looking to take full control, but has been outbid by Comcast at £30 billion

PA

23/50 21 September 2018

The Prime Minister responded with ire to the EU's rejection of her Chequers deal, stating that it is "unacceptable" at this stage for them to reject a deal outright without offering an alternative, and that the UK expects to be treated with respect

Reuters

24/50 20 September 2018

Chris Evans’ wife Natasha Shishmanian has given birth to twins, a boy and girl affectionately nicknamed “Ping and Pong” throughout the pregnancy

Getty

25/50 19 September 2018

Storm Ali hit the British Isles bringing winds of up to 100mph. A woman in the Republic of Ireland was killed when her caravan was blown off of a cliff and a man in Northern Ireland was killed by a falling tree. Pictured is a bus that was carrying students of Dundee University that was hit by a falling tree in Fife

PA

26/50 18 September 2018

Car manufacturer BMW announced that its Mini factory in the UK would close for its annual summer maintenance several weeks earlier than planned, starting on April 1, 2019, to avoid any disruption in case of a no-deal Brexit

AFP/Getty

27/50 17 September 2018

"It's either my deal or no deal", the Prime Minister has said to the BBC's Nick Robinson in an interview on Panorama. Mrs May also claims to be irritated by the constant speculation over her leadership, stating "this debate is not about my future. This debate is about the future of the people of the UK and the future of the United Kingdom."

BBC/Jeff Overs

28/50 16 September 2018

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan announced his support for a second Brexit referendum. In The Observer, the mayor writes: “After careful consideration, I’ve decided the people must get a final say. This means a public vote on any deal or a vote on a no deal, alongside the option of staying in the EU"

BBC/PA

29/50 15 September 2018

The Liberal Democrats party conference began in Brighton. In his conference speech, leader Vince Cable is expected to elaborate on his plans for a "Movement for Moderates"

PA

30/50 14 September 2018

An early Banksy mural has been accidentally painted over during renovations. The mural has been on the shop front on Park Row in the artist's hometown of Bristol since the 1990s

PA

31/50 13 September 2018

Suspects in the Skripal poisoning case Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov today claimed in an interview with Russian state broadcaster RT that they were visiting Salisbury as tourists. Stating "It’s famous for its 123-meter spire. It’s famous for its clock. It’s one of the oldest working clocks in the world."

Getty

32/50 12 September 2018

Tottenham Hotspur and French National goalkeeper Hugo Lloris leaves Westminster Magistrates' Court after pleading guilty to drink driving. The footballer is accused of being over twice the legal alcohol limit when he was stopped by police on August 24

Getty

33/50 11 September 2018

David Suchet recites from Amadeus during a service of thanksgiving to celebrate the life and work of Sir Peter Hall, the former director of the National Theatre, at Westminster Abbey in London

PA

34/50 10 September 2018

Alastair Cook celebrates his century in his last ever innings playing for England during the fourth day of the fifth test cricket match against India at The Oval. He announced his retirement before the fifth test match began, ending his illustrious 12-year test career

AFP/Getty

35/50 9 September 2018

Sir Mo Farah winning the The Great North Run's elite men's race, claiming a record-breaking fifth consecutive victory. He completed the race in under an hour

Getty/Nike

36/50 8 September 2018

Britain's former foreign secretary Boris Johnson sits in the stands during play on the second day of the fifth Test cricket match between England and India at The Oval in London

AFP/Getty

37/50 7 September 2018

The poppy sculpture Wave by artist Paul Cummins and designer Tom Piper at IWM North, The Quays, Manchester. This is the final presentation of Wave as part of a four year UK-wide tour, and the sculpture will be on site until 25 November

PA

38/50 6 September 2018

The aftermath of a house fire, which broke out in the early hours of the morning, where a woman died in Centurion Square, south-east London.

PA

39/50 5 September 2018

Counter-terrorism police have released images of the two suspects in connection with the Salisbury attack in March. The suspects Ruslan Boshirov and Alexander Petrov, are Russian nationals, and approximately 40 years old. They travelled on a Russian passport and it is likely that they were travelling under aliases and that these are not their real names. The CPS has issued European Arrest Warrants for the extradition in connection with the Novichok poisoning attack on Sergei Skripal

Metropolitan Police

40/50 4 September 2018

Pro Labour party leader, Jeremy Corbyn, protesters demonstrate outside the Labour party headquarters in London. Labour's NEC (National Executive Committee) is expected to approve the international definition of anti-Semitism into Labour's code of conduct

EPA

41/50 3 September 2018

Chris Evans surrounded by media as he leaves the Radio 2 studio in London after he announced he is quitting his breakfast show which he has presented since 2010

PA

42/50 2 September 2018

43/50 1 September 2018

An inflatable caricature balloon of Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan floats, near Parliament Square in London. Organizer Yanny Bruere raised more than 58,000 pounds ($75,000) through the Crowdfunder website for the 29-foot (8.8-meter) blimp as part of a campaign to oust Khan from his post. Khan angered some people in the British capital and elsewhere last month when he allowed a balloon caricaturing Donald Trump as an angry baby to float above the city while the U.S. president was in England.

AP

44/50 31 August 2018

A can of Coca-Cola next to a cup of Costa coffee, as Whitbread has struck a deal to sell the Costa Coffee chain to Coca-Cola for £3.9 billion

PA

45/50 30 August 2018

Frank Field MP in Westminster, London, after resigning from the Labour party over the anti-Semitism crisis. Field, who has represented Birkenhead from almost 40 years, revealed in a letter to party chief whip Nick Brown that he could no longer serve the party as the leadership was overseeing the "erosion of our core values"

PA

46/50 29 August 2018

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex meeting 'King George' and the cast at the Victoria Palace Theatre in London after attending a gala performance of the musical Hamilton, in support of Sentebale. The evening raises awareness and funds for Sentebale's work with children and young people affected by HIV in southern Africa

Dan Charity/The Sun/PA

47/50 28 August 2018

Prime Minister Theresa May meets students and staff at I.D. Mkize Secondary School in Cape Town, which is twinned with Whitby High School in Yorkshire. The two schools are part of a British Council funded teacher exchange scheme called 'Connected Classrooms'. The prime minister is on day one of her trip to South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya on a trade mission designed to bolster the UK's post-Brexit fortunes

PA

48/50 27 August 2018

Performers take part in the main Parade day of Notting Hill Carnival in London. Nearly one million people are expected by the organizers over Sunday and Monday in the streets of west London to celebrate Caribbean culture, which is considered the largest street demonstration in Europe

AFP/Getty

49/50 26 August 2018

The crowd pauses for 72 seconds silence in remembrance of all those lost in the Grenfell Tower fire at the Red Bull Music Academy Sound System at Notting Hill

Getty

50/50 25 August 2018

Comedian Rose Matafeo is congratulated by Steve Coogan after winning the Edinburgh Comedy Award at the Dovecote Studio

PA

Even those proposals were criticised as “incredibly weak” by campaigners for leaseholders, who warned it would create a “two-tier” system.

It would make newly built properties with zero ground rents more attractive – while leaving existing leaseholders, bearing ground rents, with less chance to sell their homes, they said.

Asked by The Independent, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government was unable to point to any differences between the new consultation and the first in 2017.

A spokesperson said: “This technical consultation will seek views on how to implement these reforms to the leasehold system. This is a highly complex area and it is important that we get the detail right.”

Homebuilders such as Taylor Wimpey have been criticised for inserting clauses into 999-year leases which double the ground rent every 10 years, making them impossible to sell in the worst cases.

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